OpenSlot vs Acuity Scheduling
An Acuity Scheduling alternative with a free plan.
Acuity is a capable, mature booking tool. OpenSlot is a simpler option with a free plan and lower monthly prices. Here is an honest comparison.
Free plan, no card required. Paid plans from £12 a month.
The short version
Acuity Scheduling, owned by Squarespace, has a deep feature set: intake forms, packages, gift certificates, memberships and many integrations. It has no free plan, and its plans start with a 7-day free trial.
OpenSlot covers the core of appointment booking: services with durations and prices, staff hours, buffers, notice periods, deposits, reminders and a cancellation window. It starts free and the paid plans cost less.
OpenSlot and Acuity side by side
Prices as published on each company's pricing page on 20 October 2026. Acuity prices are in USD and lower when billed annually.
| OpenSlot | Acuity Scheduling | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: one service, 20 bookings a month | No (7-day free trial) |
| Entry plan | £12 a month (Solo) | $20 a month, or $16 a month billed annually (Starter) |
| Small team | £29 a month for up to five staff | $34 a month, or $27 billed annually, for up to six calendars (Standard) |
| Deposits and payments | Solo and above, into your own Stripe | Yes, through supported payment processors |
| Intake forms, packages, gift certificates | No | Yes |
| Commission on bookings | None | None |
| Contract | Monthly, cancel any time | Monthly or annual |
Acuity Scheduling is a trademark of Squarespace. OpenSlot is not affiliated with Acuity or Squarespace.
Choose Acuity if
- You need detailed intake forms before every appointment
- You sell packages, memberships or gift certificates through the booking page
- You want your bookings to sync with an existing Google or Outlook calendar
- You already run your website on Squarespace
Choose OpenSlot if
- You want to start free and only pay once booking is working for you
- You need deposits or full payment at booking for £12 a month
- You run a small team and want a flat £29 a month for up to five staff
- You prefer a simpler setup you can finish in about ten minutes
- You want prices in GBP without currency conversion
Does Acuity Scheduling have a free trial?
Yes. Acuity listed a 7-day free trial on its paid plans when we checked on 20 October 2026. Check its site for current terms. OpenSlot has no time limit on its Free plan, which covers one service and up to 20 bookings a month.
Does Acuity Scheduling have a free plan?
No. Acuity offers a 7-day free trial on its paid plans. OpenSlot has a permanent Free plan for one service and up to 20 bookings a month.
Is OpenSlot cheaper than Acuity?
Yes for most small businesses. OpenSlot Solo is £12 a month and Team is £29 a month for up to five staff. Acuity Starter is listed at $20 a month, or $16 a month billed annually.
What does Acuity do that OpenSlot does not?
Acuity offers intake forms, packages, memberships, gift certificates and calendar sync. OpenSlot focuses on the core booking journey and payments.
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